Primetime Ratings Report For the week of April 23, 2007
ABC Continues its Competitive Momentum, Taking Second to Fox in Adults
18-49 for the 3rd Straight Week and Beating CBS and NBC by Solid Margins
For the Second Week in a Row, ABC Grows from the Same Week Last Year in Viewers and Young Adults, While Attracting its Largest Audience in 9 Weeks
ABC Airs 8 of the Week's Top 20 Shows in Adults 18-49, and "Grey's Anatomy" Outdraws Fox's "Idol" to Become No. 1 TV Show for the Week in Adults 18-34
Leading in Viewers and Young Adults, ABC is Monday's Most-Watched Net
For the 6th Straight Week and No. 1 in Adults 18-49 on 5 of the Past 6 Weeks
Dominating its Time Period Among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49,
"Dancing with the Stars" Stands as Monday's Most-Watched TV Show
ABC's "The Bachelor" Defeats NBC's Series Debut of "Wedding Crashers" Monday
At 10pm in Viewers and Adults 18-49, While Winning its Slot with Women 18-34
"Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" Hits a Season High in Women 18-49,
While Retaining 100% of its Viewer and Adult 18-49 Audience Week to Week
"Boston Legal" Wins Tuesday's 10 O'clock Hour in Viewers and Key Adults
Wednesday's No. 1 Scripted TV Program, ABC's "Lost" Beats CBS' "C.S.I. NY" for
The First Time Ever in Viewers and Leads the 10pm Hour by 52% in Adults 18-49
More than Doubling its Year-Ago Results on the Evening, ABC Wins the Opening Night of the May Sweep Among Adults 18-49 for the First Time in Over 15 Years
"Grey's Anatomy" is Thursday's No. 1 TV Program Across All Key Adult Demos
Ranking No. 1 for the Second Week in a Row, ABC's "October Road" Season Finale
Wins its Slot in Adults 18-49, Beating Originals of CBS' "Shark" and NBC's "ER"
Winning the Opening Sunday of the Sweep, ABC is No. 1 on the Night for the
2nd Week in a Row in Viewers and for the 5th Straight Week in Adults 18-49
Sunday's No. 1 Show for the 4th Week Running, ABC's "Desperate Housewives"
Surges Week to Week in Viewers and Young Adults, with its Best Results in 8 Weeks
WEEK No. 32:
For the third week in a row ABC held the No. 2 position to Fox in Adults 18-49. During the week of 4/23/07, ABC (3.3/10) placed a strong second to "Idol"-driven Fox in the key young adult sales demo, defeating third-place CBS by 14% (2.9/9) and fourth-place NBC by 57% (2.1/6). ABC ranked as the No. 1 Network on Monday, Thursday and Sunday. During the week, ABC also placed a very competitive No. 2 in Adults 18-34 (2.7/9), outdistancing CBS by 42% (1.9/6) and NBC by 59% (1.7/5).
� For the second consecutive week, ABC's prime numbers were up from the same week last year. Versus the year-ago week (w/o 4/24/06), the Network gained 1.3 million viewers (9.6 million vs. 8.3 million) and 6% in Adults 18-49 (3.3/10 vs. 3.1/9).
� The Net drew its largest audience and matched its highest Adult 18-49 rating in 9 weeks - since the week of 2/19/07, the week of its 2007 Oscar broadcast.
Weekly Rankings: ABC claimed 8 of the Top 20 TV shows for the week among Adults 18-49, placing 4 in the Top 10 (the most of any net): "Grey's Anatomy" � No. 3, "Desperate Housewives" � No. 5, "Lost" � No. 9, "Dancing with the Stars-MON" � No. 10, "Brothers & Sisters" � No. 12, "Dancing with the Stars the Results-TU" � No. 13, "October Road" � No. 15 and "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" � No. 17. ABC also aired 4 of the week's Top 10 most-watched television programs, the most of any network: "Grey's Anatomy" � No. 5, "Dancing with the Stars-MON" � No. 6, "Desperate Housewives" � No. 7 and "DWTS the Results Show-TU" � No. 9. "Grey's Anatomy" ranked as the week's No. 1 scripted program in Adults 18-49 (tie) and was the No. 1 TV show overall with Adults 18-34, topping both editions of Fox's "American Idol." ABC News' "20/20," featuring Barbara Walters' report on transgender children, stood as the No. 1 newsmagazine show for the week in Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54.
Monday
ABC stood as Monday's most-watched television network (14.1 million) for the 6th consecutive week. For the 5th time in the last 6 weeks, ABC ranked No. 1 on the evening among Adults 18-49 (4.2/11). The Net bested its nearest competition on the evening by 2.1 million viewers (CBS = 12.0 million) and by 8% in Adults 18-49 (CBS and NBC tied at 3.9/10). It's worth noting that NBC's original lineup included the return of "Heroes" and the series debut of "The Real Wedding Crashers."
� ABC is enjoying its longest Total Viewer winning streak on Monday in more than 5-1/2 years � matching a 6-week run during 2001, from 8/20-9/30/01.
� Compared to the same night last season, ABC's Monday night results jumped by 7.3 million viewers and by 45% in Adults 18-49 (6.8 million & 2.9/8 on 4/24/06).
"Dancing with the Stars" (8:00-9:31 p.m.)
Continuing to dominate its time slot in Total Viewers (18.9 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.9/14), ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" was once again Monday's most-watched TV program. In addition to winning its time period among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49, ABC's broad skewing unscripted series also ranked No. 1 in its slot among Adults 25-54 (6.2/15) and Kids 2-11 (2.7/10).
"The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman" (9:31-11:00 p.m.)
Against competition including CBS' "King of Queens" and "C.S.I.: Miami," as well as NBC's "Heroes" and "Wedding Crashers," ABC's "The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman" won its time period among its core audience of Women 18-34 (5.0/13). During the 10 o'clock hour, ABC's "The Bachelor" defeated NBC's highly promoted series debut of "Wedding Crashers" by 2.0 million viewers (8.7 million vs. 6.7 million) and by17% in Adults 18-49 (3.4/9 vs. 2.9/8).
� Despite increased competition in the time period this week, "The Bachelor: Officer and a Gentleman" was up week to week in Total Viewers (9.1 million vs. 9.0 million) and across each of the key women demographics: W18-34 (5.0/13 vs. 4.8/12), W18-49 (5.4/13 vs. 5.1/12) and W25-54 (5.4/12 vs. 5.0/11).
Tuesday
"Dancing with the Stars the Results Show - TU" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
Catapulting from its lead-in by 11.7 million viewers and by 147% among young adults against Fox's "Idol"-fueled "House" during the 9 o'clock hour, ABC's "Dancing with the Stars the Results Show" finished a competitive second in its time period in Total Viewers (16.6 million) and Adults 18-49 (4.2/11). ABC's dancing results program bested third-place CBS' "The Unit" in the 9 o'clock hour by 6.8 million viewers and by 45% in Adults 18-49 ("The Unit" = 9.8 million viewers & 2.9/7 in AD18-49). Activist for Adopt-a-Minefield and advocate for animal rights Heather Mills was the fifth celebrity dancer to be eliminated from the dance competition.
� "DWTS the Results Show" retained 100% of its Total Viewer and Adult 18-49 audience from the prior week, while matching a season high among Women 18-49 (6.2/14) and marking its best number since its premiere among Teens 12-17 (2.1/7).
Boston Legal" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
ABC's "Boston Legal" was the most-watched TV program during the 10 o'clock hour (9.5 million), also delivering the No. 1 position among Adults 18-49 (2.3/6-tie) and Adults 25-54 (3.1/8).
Wednesday
ABC took second place on Wednesday to Fox's two-hour "American Idol" lineup among Adults 18-49 (2.7/7), beating third-place CBS (2.6/7) and fourth-place NBC (1.9/5).
"Notes from the Underbelly" (8:30-9:00 p.m.)
"Notes from the Underbelly" built on its lead-in across each of the key adult demographics: Adults 18-34 (1.4/4 vs. 1.2/4), Adults 18-49 (1.9/5 vs. 1.8/5) and Adults 25-54 (2.2/5 vs. 2.0/5). The freshman comedy posted its largest lead-in increase among its core demographic, growing by 36% among Women 18-34 (1.9/5 vs. 1.4/4).
"Lost" (10:00-11:00 p.m.)
Building on its lead-in by 8.1 million viewers (11.9 million vs. 3.8 million) and by 257% in young adults (5.0/13 vs. 1.4/3), "Lost" took the top spot in Wednesday's 10 o'clock hour, as well as being TV's No. 1 scripted-program of the night for the second week running in Total Viewers (11.9 million) and across the adult demographics: Adults 18-34 (4.3/13), Adults 18-49 (5.0/13) and Adults 25-54 (5.5/14). In fact the ABC drama has won its hour in the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic on all 12 telecasts since entering its new time slot.
� ABC's "Lost" defeated CBS' "C.S.I.: NY" in both Total Viewers (11.9 million vs. 11.4 million; +4%) and Adults 18-49 (5.0/13 vs. 3.3/9; +52%). In the process, the ABC drama outdelivered the CBS series for the first time ever in Total Viewers, while posting its second-largest margin of victory among young adults with originals.
� "Lost" improved the hour for ABC over the same night last year by 4.5 million viewers and 79% in Adults 18-49 (7.4 million & 2.8/7 on 4/26/06).
Thursday
ABC won the opening night of the 2007 May Sweep among Adults 18-49 (5.2/14), beating second-place CBS by 8% (4.8/13), third-place NBC by 63% (3.2/9) and fourth-place Fox by 93% (2.7/7). The Network overshadowed its competitors on the evening with Adults 18-34, leading its nearest competition by 71% (5.3/16 vs. 3.1/9 � NBC) during prime.
� ABC more than doubled its results on the opening night of the May Sweep a year ago (4/27/06), jumping by 6.7 million viewers (13.0 million vs. 6.3 million) and by 148% in Adults 18-49 (5.2/14 vs. 2.1/6).
� ABC marked its first Adult 18-49 victory for an opening night during a May Sweep in over 15 years � predating the start of Nielsen's electronic database in September 1991. In addition, the Network posted its highest Adult 18-49 rating on any Thursday during a May Sweep in 7 years � since 5/4/00.
"Ugly Betty" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
ABC's "Ugly Betty" won its time period by 22% among Women 18-34 (4.5/13 vs. 3.7/11).
� "Ugly Betty" grew its numbers week to week in both Total Viewers (9.6 million vs. 9.5 million) and Adults 18-49 (3.1/9 vs. 3.0/9).
"Grey's Anatomy" (9:00-10:01 p.m.)
The No. 1 TV program of the night across the adults demographics, ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" dominated the 9 o'clock hour, beating an original of CBS' "C.S.I." by wide margins: AD18-34 +132% (8.6/24 vs. 3.7/10), AD 18-49 +42% (8.4/21 vs. 5.9/15) and Adults 25-54 +17% (8.8/21 vs. 7.5/18). In fact, the ABC medical drama has beaten the CBS crime drama in Adults 18-49 on all 16 of their original match-ups this season.
"October Road" (10:01-11:00 p.m.)
Airing against original programming, the season finale of ABC's "October Road" won the final hour of Thursday's prime for the second week in a row in Adults 18-49 (4.1/12), outperforming CBS' "Shark" by 8% (3.8/11) and NBC's "ER" by 11% (3.7/10).
� "October Road" ranked as the No. 2 program of the night for the second week in a row in Adults 18-34 (4.4/13) and Women 18-34 (6.6/18), behind only "Grey's Anatomy."
� "October Road" was up week to week among Women 18-34 by 8% (6.6/18 vs. 6.1/18), delivering the freshman drama's best performance in the hour in 5 weeks � since 3/22/07.
Friday
On the first Friday of the May Sweep, ABC finished second on the night among Adults 18-49 (2.2/7), while ranking No. 1 among Adults 18-34 (1.8/7) and Women 18-49 (3.1/10 � tied).
"Wife Swap" (9:01-10:01 p.m.)
Opposite an original of CBS' "Close to Home" and the season finale of NBC's "Raines," ABC's "Wife Swap" led its time period among Adults 18-49 (2.2/7) and Adults 18-34 (2.0/8), winning the hour among Adults 18-49 for the third consecutive week. "Wife Swap" also ranked as the No. 1 TV show of the night among Adults 18-34 (2.0/8 � tied with ABC News' "20/20") and Women 18-34 (3.0/10).
"20/20" (10:02-11:00 p.m.)
ABC News' "20/20," featuring a Barbara Walters Report: Living as � and with � a Transgender Kid, led the hour Adults 18-49 (2.6/9) and Adults 18-34 (2.0/7) for the third week in a row. The newsmagazine ranked as the No. 1 program on the night among Adults 18-49 (tie), matching its highest demo rating in 10 weeks � since 2/16/07.
Sunday
Winning the opening Sunday of the 2007 May Sweep, ABC ranked No. 1 on the evening in Total Viewers (11.9 million) for the second week in a row and took the top position for the fifth consecutive week among Adults 18-49 (4.5/13). ABC topped the night by wide margins in the key Adult 18-49 sales demographic, outrunning second-place Fox by 45% (3.1/9), third-place CBS by 67% (2.7/8) and fourth-place NBC 165% (1.7/5). ABC won all 4 hours of the evening among Adults 18-49.
� ABC posted its strongest Sunday in 2 months among viewers and young adults � since 3/4/07.
� For the fourth straight week, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" is Sunday's No. 1 TV show in Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. The Net claimed the Top 2 television programs on Sunday in Adults 18-49, with "Desperate Housewives" and "Brothers & Sisters," respectively.
"America's Funniest Home Videos" (7:00-8:00 p.m.)
Winning Sunday's 7 o'clock hour for the 3rd consecutive week, "America's Funniest Home Videos" posted another decisive victory in its time period among Adults 18-49, outdelivering its nearest competitor by 42% (2.7/10 vs. 1.9/7 � CBS' "60 Minutes"). A consistent draw among all age groups, the venerable ABC video clip show was the evening's No. 1 show with Kids 2-11 (2.5/12).
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (8:00-9:00 p.m.)
ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" ranked No. 1 during the 8 o'clock hour among Total Viewers and Adults 18-49. "Home Edition" surpassed its unscripted competition in the time period (penultimate episode of CBS' "Amazing Race All-Stars") by 14% in Total Viewers (10.7 million vs. 9.4 million) and by 29% in Adults 18-49 (4.0/12 vs. 3.1/9).
"Desperate Housewives" (9:00-10:02 p.m.)
The No. 1 TV show on Sunday for the fourth week running, ABC's "Desperate Housewives" towered over its time period competition in viewers and young adults. "Housewives" bested its closest competition during the 9 o'clock hour by 5.1 million viewers (17.2 million vs. 12.1 million � CBS' "Cold Case") and by 84% in Adults 18-49 (6.8/17 vs. 3.7/10 � Fox's "Family Guy"/"American Dad").
� "Desperate Housewives" was up by 1.3 million viewers and by 11% in Adults 18-49 week to week (15.9 million & 6.1/15 on 4/22/07), marking its best results in 8 weeks on both counts � since 3/4/07.
"Brothers & Sisters" (10:02-11:00 p.m.)
ABC's freshman "Brothers & Sisters" delivered a dominant win during the 10 o'clock hour across the key adult demographics, pacing well ahead of CBS' veteran "Without a Trace": AD18-34 +60% (3.2/10 vs. 2.0/6), AD18-49 +34% (4.3/12 vs. 3.2/9) and AD25-54 +11% (5.0/13 vs. 4.5/12).
Source: Nielsen Media Research, NTI (Live+SD or Most Current), week of 4/23/07, or as dated.
|